The Arctic's unique environment and indigenous peoples are under increasing threat from industrial activities and the region is likely to change drastically unless decision-makers in the European Union and elsewhere address the challenges seriously.admin

NEWS RELEASE

Brussels/Copenhagen, 15 March 2004

Arctic faces drastic change without EU policy
action

The Arctic's unique environment and indigenous peoples
are under increasing threat from industrial activities and the region
is likely to change drastically unless decision-makers in the European
Union and elsewhere address the challenges seriously.

This is the key message of a new report, Arctic
environment: European perspectives, published jointly by the United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the European Environment
Agency (EEA).

The report, compiled by experts at the UNEP GRID
Arendal centre in Norway, warns that the northern polar region faces a
diverse range of threats from unsustainable development, pollution and
climate change.

These threats include the fragmentation of wildlife
habitats, over-harvesting of the region's once-abundant fish stocks and
unsustainable use of other natural resources such as its vast forests.
Unique plant and animal species are under threat or disappearing due to
climate change. Pollutants, some known to be cancerous, are present in
key Arctic species, causing great concern for human health.

Piecemeal development is also beginning to have a
major cumulative effect on the Arctic environment, with adverse
economic and social consequences for its indigenous peoples.

"With the high levels of toxic chemicals in local
Inuit peoples, the melting of permafrost and the retreat of glaciers
across the region, the Arctic is like an environmental early warning
system for the world," UNEP Executive Director Klaus Toepfer said.

"Luckily there are measures to address these
problems. On 17 May this year, the Stockholm Convention on Persistent
Organic Pollutants will become legally binding. This international
legal agreement commits governments to stop the production and
dispersion of the so-called 'dirty dozen' highly toxic chemicals. In
addition, the Kyoto Protocol can enter into force and set the scene for
further measures to address climate change if the Russian Federation
accedes to it."

"Decision makers across Europe must clearly
recognise that adopting such measures will bring not only environmental
and social benefits but also clear economic advantages at home," Mr
Toepfer continued.

"When it comes to climate change, implementing
renewable energy policies and other actions that lessen the huge
financial burden of floods and other weather-related disasters will
result in stronger, healthier economies. Rather than having a negative
economic impact, the Kyoto Protocol can help stimulate clean economies
that will benefit both the Arctic and Europe alike."

Prof. Jacqueline McGlade, EEA Executive Director,
added:

"Governments, regulators, indigenous peoples and
the private sector need to work together to manage the Arctic's natural
resources and use them responsibly and equitably. These and other
measures will not be accomplished without genuine commitment at all
levels, but Europe's connection to the Arctic more than justifies this
commitment."

"The European Union in particular has the potential
to take a leading role in catalysing the response of the Arctic
nations," she continued. "Decision-makers need to take the current
challenges seriously and find solutions to them through a structured
process of consultation."

Indigenous peoples have managed the Arctic's
resources in a sustainable manner for thousands of years but today it
is industrialised countries, including EU nations, that are both the
main users and the main sources of pollution affecting the region. The
indigenous peoples suffer most of the adverse effects of this
exploitation while receiving a relatively small share of the
benefits.

By focusing attention on the Arctic, the report
aims to contribute to the successful implementation of the EU's second
Northern Dimension action plan, covering 2004-2006.

Although the action plan's geographical priority is
the Baltic area, it has the potential to address circumpolar and global
issues affecting the resources and environment of the entire
Arctic.

The action plan, which includes a focus on
sustainable development, is expected to play an important role in
developing cooperation between the EU and regional bodies related to
the Arctic, such as the Arctic Council.

"The contributions that the indigenous peoples
living in the High North and the Arctic can make to this process, and
the role they play in the stewardship of the region, are of key
importance for the implementation of the new plan," Mr Toepfer and
Prof. McGlade write in a joint foreword to the report.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is
the environmental voice of the United Nations system. With the slogan
"Environment for Development", UNEP aims to provide leadership and
encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring,
informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of
life without compromising that of future generations. For more
information see www.unep.org

About the EEA

The European Environment Agency is the main source
of information used by the European Union and its Member States in
developing environment policies. The Agency aims to support sustainable
development and to help achieve significant and measurable improvement
in Europe's environment through the provision of timely, targeted,
relevant and reliable information to policy-making agents and the
public. Established by the EU in 1990 and operational in Copenhagen
since 1994, the EEA is the hub of the European environment information
and observation network (Eionet), a network of around 300 bodies across
Europe through which it both collects and disseminates
environment-related data and information.

The Agency, which is open to all nations that share
its objectives, currently has 31 member countries. These are the 15 EU
Member States; Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein, which are members of
the European Economic Area; and the 13 EU acceding and candidate
countries, namely Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia,
Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, the
Slovak Republic and Turkey. The EEA is the first EU body to take in the
acceding and candidate countries. Negotiations on EEA membership are
also under way with Switzerland.

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NEWS RELEASE
Brussels/Copenhagen, 15 March 2004
Arctic faces drastic change without EU policy
action
The Arctic's unique environment and indigenous peoples
are under increasing threat from industrial activities and the region
is likely to change drastically unless decision-makers in the European
Union and elsewhere address the challenges seriously.
This is the key message of a new report, Arctic
environment: European perspectives, published jointly by the United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the European Environment
Agency (EEA).
The report, compiled by experts at the UNEP GRID
Arendal centre in Norway, warns that the northern polar region faces a
diverse range of threats from unsustainable development, pollution and
climate change.
These threats include the fragmentation of wildlife
habitats, over-harvesting of the region's once-abundant fish stocks and
unsustainable use of other natural resources such as its vast forests.
Unique plant and animal species are under threat or disappearing due to
climate change. Pollutants, some known to be cancerous, are present in
key Arctic species, causing great concern for human health.
Piecemeal development is also beginning to have a
major cumulative effect on the Arctic environment, with adverse
economic and social consequences for its indigenous peoples.
"With the high levels of toxic chemicals in local
Inuit peoples, the melting of permafrost and the retreat of glaciers
across the region, the Arctic is like an environmental early warning
system for the world," UNEP Executive Director Klaus Toepfer said.
"Luckily there are measures to address these
problems. On 17 May this year, the Stockholm Convention on Persistent
Organic Pollutants will become legally binding. This international
legal agreement commits governments to stop the production and
dispersion of the so-called 'dirty dozen' highly toxic chemicals. In
addition, the Kyoto Protocol can enter into force and set the scene for
further measures to address climate change if the Russian Federation
accedes to it."
"Decision makers across Europe must clearly
recognise that adopting such measures will bring not only environmental
and social benefits but also clear economic advantages at home," Mr
Toepfer continued.
"When it comes to climate change, implementing
renewable energy policies and other actions that lessen the huge
financial burden of floods and other weather-related disasters will
result in stronger, healthier economies. Rather than having a negative
economic impact, the Kyoto Protocol can help stimulate clean economies
that will benefit both the Arctic and Europe alike."
Prof. Jacqueline McGlade, EEA Executive Director,
added:
"Governments, regulators, indigenous peoples and
the private sector need to work together to manage the Arctic's natural
resources and use them responsibly and equitably. These and other
measures will not be accomplished without genuine commitment at all
levels, but Europe's connection to the Arctic more than justifies this
commitment."
"The European Union in particular has the potential
to take a leading role in catalysing the response of the Arctic
nations," she continued. "Decision-makers need to take the current
challenges seriously and find solutions to them through a structured
process of consultation."
Indigenous peoples have managed the Arctic's
resources in a sustainable manner for thousands of years but today it
is industrialised countries, including EU nations, that are both the
main users and the main sources of pollution affecting the region. The
indigenous peoples suffer most of the adverse effects of this
exploitation while receiving a relatively small share of the
benefits.
By focusing attention on the Arctic, the report
aims to contribute to the successful implementation of the EU's second
Northern Dimension action plan, covering 2004-2006.
Although the action plan's geographical priority is
the Baltic area, it has the potential to address circumpolar and global
issues affecting the resources and environment of the entire
Arctic.
The action plan, which includes a focus on
sustainable development, is expected to play an important role in
developing cooperation between the EU and regional bodies related to
the Arctic, such as the Arctic Council.
"The contributions that the indigenous peoples
living in the High North and the Arctic can make to this process, and
the role they play in the stewardship of the region, are of key
importance for the implementation of the new plan," Mr Toepfer and
Prof. McGlade write in a joint foreword to the report.
Note to editors
The report is available at
http://reports.eea.europa.eu/environmental_issue_report_2004_38/en
About UNEP
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is
the environmental voice of the United Nations system. With the slogan
"Environment for Development", UNEP aims to provide leadership and
encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring,
informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of
life without compromising that of future generations. For more
information see www.unep.org
About the EEA
The European Environment Agency is the main source
of information used by the European Union and its Member States in
developing environment policies. The Agency aims to support sustainable
development and to help achieve significant and measurable improvement
in Europe's environment through the provision of timely, targeted,
relevant and reliable information to policy-making agents and the
public. Established by the EU in 1990 and operational in Copenhagen
since 1994, the EEA is the hub of the European environment information
and observation network (Eionet), a network of around 300 bodies across
Europe through which it both collects and disseminates
environment-related data and information.
The Agency, which is open to all nations that share
its objectives, currently has 31 member countries. These are the 15 EU
Member States; Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein, which are members of
the European Economic Area; and the 13 EU acceding and candidate
countries, namely Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia,
Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, the
Slovak Republic and Turkey. The EEA is the first EU body to take in the
acceding and candidate countries. Negotiations on EEA membership are
also under way with Switzerland.
For more information, please contact:
UNEP
Robert Bisset
UNEP Spokesperson in Europe
Tel: +33 1 4437 7613
Fax: +33 1 4437 1474
Mob: +33 6 2272 5842
Email: Robert.Bisset@unep.fr
2011-04-13T19:55:29Z2011100Arctic faces drastic change without EU policy actionThe Arctic's unique environment and indigenous peoples are under increasing threat from industrial activities and the region is likely to change drastically unless decision-makers in the European Union and elsewhere address the challenges seriously.policyFalse